Monday, 27 May 2013

Sun, shawls and mysteries

I had a lovely bank holiday weekend in the glorious sunshine. The view on our favourite walk was stunning

The bluebells and wild garlic everywhere

The blossom is beautiful against the blue sky

... and the grass is growing so high that Rosie can hardly make her way through ...

...My favourites are the cowslips

Cowslips remind me of being a child. Not just because of their links to sunshine but because one of my favourite books was Alison Uttleys Little Grey rabbit's series Moldy Warp the Mole, where Fuzzipeg the hedgehog and Moldy Warp (great names!) makes cowslip balls.

until I managed to do something to my back .... did I do it rock climbing, doing the tango, gardening, no I'm afraid I was making the bed. I'm sure I will be fine in a few days, but at the moment I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself and tied to the settee. I'm not even up to sitting at the sewing machine (which is a shame because I have some trousers nearly finished). I have, however, finished my shawl, and I do like it. It is not much bigger than a scarf and I think if you don't know if you would ever wear a shawl it's the perfect inbetween as you can wear it pretty much like a scarf. I hope it doesn't look too grannieish! Once upon a time I had never heard of blocking knitting (obviously I stopped reading the pattern before the" making up" instructions. However, this is actually in praise of blocking. Here is the shawl before

and after

As you can see the pattern is much crisper and the scallops clearer. I just block on a towel on my bedroom floor (and I'm a bit slapdash - but even this approach makes a big difference).

And here it is on my lovely assistant.

This was my first try at i-cord casting off, which is really easy (but took ages for 350 stitches). It gives a substantial "cord-like" edge ideal for shawls.

The wool is malibrigo sock yarn and I really liked it. You can see the gradiated colour (not too strong, just right to be interesting) and it takes less than one skein. The pattern is Dauphine and I would say an easy intermediate project.I am a huge fan of the Miss Marple and Poirot series. Nothing better than a "pleasant" murder mystery. Part of the attraction is the styling and clothes. I've just finished watching an episode which had the most beautiful dresses and one in particular caught my eye.

I couldn't find a better picture but these should give some idea. It had a full skirt and would be an early fifities style. The problem is I have decided that this is the dress I would like to wear to Dan's wedding! (Having had no idea before). I am going to have to hunt high and low to see if I can find a pattern somewhere (maybe even a letter to Granada), not that I would make it myself. This is and example of a "Popover" dress introduced by Claire McCardell in the 50s, another great example here.

Mind you on that kind of figure a sack would look good! Till next weekend, then, when Dan will hopefully be home and I can photo my trousers on!﻿

2 comments:

Isn't that blue sky gorgeous? So sorry to hear about your back but at least it's forced you to finish your shawl and it looks fab! That dress is gorgeous - surely there must be a pattern out there somewhere? Jane x

I block everything, it helps disguise my many errors and lack of skill with the hook/needle! The shawl looks so different after blocking. I have put my back out making the bed and also bending down to put a cake in the oven. Doesn't take much! x

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About Me

A fifty-something educational manager - a crafting beginner who really only got the bug two years ago. My main interest is vintage sewing and knitting. Also love films, reading and my assorted pets but most of all my lovely son .